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It's Cool To Be Smart “Stop Teen on Teen Violence” Mentoring Project for Young Men with T.I., HBO "The Wire"Anwan Glover and Screen Writer Antwone Fisher and others
IT'S COOL TO BE SMART MISSION
Founded in 2003, IT'S COOL TO BE SMART is a mentoring program for teenage youth that collaborates with celebrities from film, television and music. The organization has touched the lives of more 3000 youth across the country, including cities such as Atlanta, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The program's mission is to empower youth to become future business leaders by creating mentorship opportunities with influential people in the entertainment industry throughout the nation.
The national organization is currently supported by the Georgia Department of Human Resources.
ABOUT THE MENTORING PROJECT FOR YOUNG MEN
As mentioned our organization has a history of working with many known celebrities such as Screen Writer and ICTBS Board Member, Antwone Fisher, T.I., the late Gerald Levert, Grammy Song Writer, Sean Garrett( Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Usher, Beyonce’, Jay-Z) Lil Jon, Lil Kim, Anwan Glover (HBO "The Wire") and many others, who have supported the efforts for the It’s Cool To Be Smart organization.
Our most recent project was called It's Cool To Be Smart "Discussing Teen on Teen Peer Pressure" with actor, Mr. Anwan Glover, from the proclaimed HBO show "The Wire".
Overview of the Discussion on “Pezo in the Crib” at HOT 107.9 with Actor, Anwan Glover.
The HBO Wires “Slim Charles”
Tackles Teen Peer Pressure with It’s Cool To Be Smart before the Martin Luther King Holiday
January 17th, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia,–Before celebrating the Martin Luther King Holiday, Anwan Glover, a.k.a. Big G, who plays Slim Charles on HBO “The Wire”, was a special featured speaker on Thursday January 17th on HOT 107.9 “Pezo in the Crib” show for Towers High School and the Atlanta community for the nonprofit organization It’s Cool To Be Smart” Real Talk Speaker Series. Glover spoke on the show about the dangers of gun violence and how to cope with teen peer pressure, “We are thrilled Slim Charles a.k.a., “Big G” has agreed to be part of our initiative and spreading his nonviolence message, “said organizations’, Executive Director Curtis B. The mentoring program for teens has touched the lives of more than 3000 youth across the country.
Glover, a D.C. native has a recurring role on “Law & Order” and he just signed a motion picture deal to star in the movie “Hood Related”. The movie will also star other cast members of the popular HBO Show, “I am excited about speaking at Towers High to motivate students in doing the right thing and also to support “It’s Cool To Be Smart.” stated “Big G”.
Glover knows first hand about crime and violence. In November, his younger brother Tayon Glover (age 29) was shot and killed. Glover has also had his brushes with the law but today he preaches nonviolence and for teenagers to steer clear of his former life, “I have been shot nine times and I thank God for giving me another chance to live life morally correct and just,” said Glover.
Overview components of Project
It's Cool To Be Smart "Stop Teen on Teen Violence"
At this time, It’s Cool To Be Smart will establish a more effective and fairer criminal and juvenile justice policies and institutions throughout the nation. Our new at risk project for boys is called It's Cool To Be Smart "Stop Teen on Teen Violence". This mentoring project will aim to lower overall rates of incarceration of young men and help eliminate unequal treatment of African Americans. Also our main goal with this project is to lower the rate of repeat offenders from entering back into the criminal justice system in Atlanta Georgia.
During this project, It's Cool To Be Smart will be partnering with actor Anwan Glover from "The WIRE"," and “Law & Order” and actors from “New York Under Cover”, T.I., Screen Writer, Author and ICTBS Board Member Antwone Fisher and HOT 107.9 Radio Personality, Pezo in Atlanta, who will become mentors for over 300 selected boys, attending Towers High School. (Boys selected will have history of being in the Juvenile system) All celebrity mentors will have a background on working with "At Risk Youth".
The project will start during the fall of 2008- May of 2009 in Dekalb County of Atlanta Georgia. The areas of discussion will focus on the following areas: Building family bonds; Gang Prevention; Positive re- integration into the community and school; Establishing a positive pattern of behavior; allowing yourself to trust positive people.
Also quarterly panel Discussions called "Real Talk" that is Hosted by our Radio One partners will be provided for the selected youth throughout 2008-2009.
These panel discussions have always consisted of panel celebrities that focus on problems that the youth our having in their communities, schools and the Juvenile system.